# US 10,312,530 B2 · Fuel cell device and system

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- Number: US 10,312,530 B2
- Document ID: US10312530B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/174,076
- Filed: 2016-06-06
- Published: 2017-02-02
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2007-05-10
- Applicants: Alan Devoe; Lambert Devoe
- Inventors: Alan Devoe; Lambert Devoe
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10312530B2

## CPC

- H01M 8/04067: {Heat exchange or temperature measuring elements, thermal insulation, e.g. heat pipes, heat pumps, fins}
- H01M 8/002: {Shape, form of a fuel cell}
- H01M 8/0202: Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
- H01M 8/0258: characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant
- H01M 8/0271: Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes
- H01M 8/0297: Arrangements for joining electrodes, reservoir layers, heat exchange units or bipolar separators to each other (H01M8/0271 takes precedence)
- H01M 8/04007: related to heat exchange
- H01M 8/1213: characterised by the electrode/electrolyte combination or the supporting material
- H01M 8/1231: with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised
- H01M 8/124: characterised by the process of manufacturing or by the material of the electrolyte
- H01M 8/2404: Processes or apparatus for grouping fuel cells
- H01M 8/2425: High-temperature cells with solid electrolytes
- H01M 8/243: Grouping of unit cells of tubular or cylindrical configuration
- H01M 8/2432: Grouping of unit cells of planar configuration
- H01M 8/2435: with monolithic core structure, e.g. honeycombs
- H01M 8/2457: with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised
- H01M 2008/1293: {Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes}
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- Y10T 156/10: Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A fuel cell device is provided having an active central portion with an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte therebetween. At least three elongate portions extend from the active central portion, each having a length substantially greater than a width transverse thereto such that the elongate portions each have a coefficient of thermal expansion having a dominant axis that is coextensive with its length. A fuel passage extends from a fuel inlet in a first elongate portion into the active central portion in association with the anode, and an oxidizer passage extends from an oxidizer inlet in a second elongate portion into the active central portion in association with the cathode. A gas passage extends between an opening in the third elongate portion and the active central portion. For example, the passage in the third elongate portion may be an exhaust passage for the spent fuel and/or oxidizer gasses.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fuel cell device comprising:
an elongate ceramic substrate having an exterior surface, an interior solid ceramic support structure, and a length from a first end to a second end that is the greatest dimension whereby the elongate ceramic substrate exhibits thermal expansion along a dominant axis that is coextensive with the length, an active zone along a first portion of the length and at least one non-active end region along a second portion of the length at one or both of the first and second ends, wherein the active zone comprises a porous anode and a porous cathode in opposing relation with an electrolyte therebetween for undergoing a fuel cell reaction when supplied with heat, fuel and oxidizer, and the at least one non-active end region lacks the anode and cathode in opposing relation and extends away from the active zone without being heated to dissipate heat and to thereby remain at a lower temperature than the active zone when the active zone is supplied with heat; and wherein the electrolyte, anode and cathode extend within the interior solid ceramic support structure;
a fuel passage associated with the porous anode and extending within the interior solid ceramic support structure from the at least one non-active end region through the active zone;
an oxidizer passage associated with the porous cathode and extending within the interior solid ceramic support structure from the at least one non-active end region through the active zone; and
a high-density current collector positioned at least partially recessed into a surface portion of each of the porous anode and porous cathode and exposed in the respective fuel and oxidizer passages.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell device of claim 1 wherein the porous anode and its high-density current collector and the porous cathode and its high-density current collector each have an electrical pathway extending to the exterior surface in the at least one non-active end region for electrical connection at a temperature below a temperature of the active zone when the active zone is supplied with heat.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The fuel cell device of claim 2 further comprising
a negative voltage connection to the exterior surface in the at least one non-active end region in electrical contact with the electrical pathway of the anode and its high-density current collector; and
a positive voltage connection to the exterior surface in the at least one non-active end region in electrical contact with the electrical pathway of the cathode and its high-density current collector.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The fuel cell device of claim 3 wherein the electrical pathways each extend to the exterior surface in the active zone and exterior surface metallizations are positioned from the exterior surface in the active zone to the exterior surface in the at least one non-active end region.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell device of claim 1 wherein the high-density current collectors have a hatch pattern of intersecting lines with open spaces between lines.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The fuel cell device of claim 5 wherein the high-density current collectors are fully recessed into the surface portions of the respective porous anode and porous cathode to form a planar surface exposed within each of the respective fuel and oxidizer passages.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The fuel cell device of claim 5 wherein the high-density current collectors are only partially recessed into the surface portions of the respective porous anode and porous cathode such that a first portion of each of the high-density current collectors are positioned within the respective porous anode and porous cathode and a second portion of each of the high-density current collectors protrude into the respective fuel and oxidizer passages.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell device of claim 1 wherein the at least one non-active end region includes first and second non-active end regions positioned at the respective first and second ends of the elongate ceramic substrate with the active zone positioned between the first and second non-active end regions.